All aboard the Edinburgh Express
Members will soon receive details of the 2008 AIRMIC annual conference in Edinburgh on June 17-18. Anticipation is high after the highly successful conferences of the past two years, both attracting record attendances. Exhibitors took all the stand space weeks ago, and the hope is that there will be another excellent turn-out from members.
Training for members
The conference opens with a series of members-only training sessions, which are now firmly established as a popular feature.Tutors from the Cranfield Institute, a business training college with an international reputation, will hold sessions on three issues of importance to risk managers: corporate governance; project risk management; and reputation and brand management. In addition technical director Paul Hopkin, whose roadshows on the same subject last year were over-subscribed, will discuss the development of a risk management strategy. After that, the event follows the time-honoured format, combining plenary sessions with a wide choice of lectures and workshops – plus, of course, plenty of social and networking opportunities.
There are nearly thirty sessions to choose from, covering a formidable range of risk management and insurance topics. Several of them reflect the theme of communicating risk management, with emphasis on helping risk managers to make their case effectively within their organisations.
Preparing for the unknown
Being able to anticipate whatever the future may throw at you is, of course, a key risk management skill. Futurologist, broadcaster and writer James Bellini has made a career of reading political, social and economic trends; then thinking ‘outside the box’ and advising organisations on the implications. He is a Fellow of the World Innovation Foundation set up by Nobel Laureate Glenn Theodore Seaborg. He will be joined in the opening presentation by Dr Darrell Jaya-Ratnam, who helps FTSE 100 firms and defence organisations identify threats and risks so that they can be exploited through appropriate investment in assets, capacity and technology.
Communicating risk management
As they will explain, however, it is not enough just to anticipate what may lie ahead. It is vital that Boards sit up and take notice. How to gain their attention and the language to use, often adopting skills from other disciplines such as marketing and operations, will form a central part of their talk.
This point is taken up by several later speakers. In the breakout session ‘Get your message across – using the correct language’ (Day One), John Stevens and Peter Odele discuss how the right choice of words can help to get management buy-in for an idea.Without it, your chances of success are seriously reduced.The speakers will use their personal experience to show how a few small but vital changes can help you to make the risk management case more effectively.
Applying Poker to risk management
What is the difference between gambling and insurance? AIRMIC News has already carried an article from a professional gambler arguing that the two are closely related.The final keynote speaker is a leading professional Poker player, Caspar Berry, who is also a film writer and broadcaster renowned for his wit. A Cambridge graduate, he advises many leading companies on business strategy. His message is that understanding how to take calculated risks is critical in the creation of dynamic leaders and managers.What has Poker got to do with it? Well, one way to find out is to go and listen.
Day Two of the conference begins with the topical Forum
– a unique opportunity for risk managers to quiz leading insurers and brokers. As the name implies, the idea is to keep it topical, so the subject and panel will be chosen at a later date.
The exhibition is always a big attraction.The stand space sold out long ago, and there is a sizeable waiting list of those wanting to exhibit.
Communicating risk management
Dear Colleague,AIRMIC’s theme this year is ‘Communicating risk management’ – something that’s easy to say but often difficult to put into practice.The best way to communicate is, of course, through face-to-face contact, which is one of many reasons why I hope you will be able to attend our Edinburgh conference.
In my opinion we have an excellent range of speakers and workshop leaders, but the delegates are what really make our annual event so special. It is by a long way the UK’s biggest gathering of risk managers and associated professionals. It provides a unique opportunity to mix informally in a congenial atmosphere and to learn from each other.Many important
AIRMIC initiatives have sprung up as a result of this interaction. Not only does the conference provide an outstanding opportunity for personal development, but it’s free to most categories of AIRMIC member. We have made it as accessible as we can, and so please do come along and make it an even better occasion.
Kind regards, Colin Campbell, Chairman
